Flexcar DC Operations Grows

WASHINGTON--Dec. 3, 20030, 2003--Flexcar, the nation's oldest and largest provider of car-sharing programs, has increased the size of its DC Metro area team. Fran Zaks, a 15-year veteran in the car rental business, and Sarah Tarvid a seasoned customer service professional, have been hired to respond to, as well as help fuel, growth in membership in the DC Metro area.

Through its partnership with Metro, Flexcar's innovative program provides individuals and businesses with access to a fleet of environmentally friendly vehicles, including gas-electric hybrids, light pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles located throughout the DC metro area. Members reserve the vehicles via the Web or touch-tone phone for hourly use with Flexcar covering the cost of the car, gas, parking, insurance and maintenance. Members access the cars via a specially coded keycard, and pay hourly or monthly for use of the vehicles.

Zaks has 15 years of sales and customer service experience in the car rental industry, serving as corporate and government sales manager for Enterprise Rent-A-Car. She was responsible for developing new business and managing relationships with military bases and Government agencies in Washington DC, Virginia and Maryland. Prior to Enterprise, Zaks held senior sales positions with a number of companies. She attended Queens College in New York. Zaks will lead Flexcar's sales efforts to businesses and the government.

Tarvid's background includes customer service and sales and technical operations support in the broadband industry. Prior to joining Flexcar she held a sales support role with San Francisco-based Williams-Sonoma. Tarvid attended Bryn Mawr College and Radford University. She will handle customer service for business accounts as well as individual members.

Flexcar's DC office has had a banner year in 2003. Total membership has expanded to more than 4,000 individuals. Flexcar has also dramatically increased its fleet size, adding 50 new vehicles for a total of 84 sedans, pickup trucks, light SUV's and hybrid cars. This nearly 200 percent increase in fleet size has benefited the six jurisdictions Flexcar serves: the District of Columbia, Arlington County, Alexandria, Fairfax County, Montgomery County, and Prince George's County.

Through Flexcar's partnership with Metro, Flexcar vehicles are available at or near 60 percent of Metro stations system wide. Flexcar is particularly proud of its commitment to serve the entire Washington, DC region, regardless of income or other demographic factors.

Following a successful European model, Flexcar launched its Seattle operations in 2000, and has since won numerous awards and commendations for its program that reduces congestion, air pollution and energy use, while increasing use of public transportation and contributing to sustainable communities. Used in conjunction with public transit, car/vanpools and walking/biking, car-sharing helps individuals meet their transportation needs in an economic and environmentally responsible manner, giving them the freedom of car ownership without the associated cost and hassles.

Flexcar

Headquartered in Seattle, Flexcar now operates car-sharing programs for more than 19,000 members in more than a dozen cities and counties in 5 states and the District of Columbia. With flexible pricing plans, members can reserve and drive any of these cars whenever and wherever they need to, without filling out complicated paperwork, paying for insurance, gas or repairs. Flexcar Business Memberships enable companies to augment or replace their fleet with Flexcar vehicles. Flexcar's modern fleet includes sedans, gas-electric hybrids, electric cars and specialty vehicles including pickups and convertibles. Flexcar has established strategic partnerships with King County (Wash.) Metro Transit, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), Parsons Transportation Group, Bristol Bay Native Corporation and American Honda Motor Company, Inc.

Editor's Note: Correct spelling and punctuation is "Flexcar"; not FlexCar, Flex-car, Flex Car or Flexicar.